Tailpiece for stringed musical instruments



May 6, 1930 F. J. CALLIER TAILPIECE FOR STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Filed Jan. 30, 1928 Patented May 6, 1930 UNITED STATES FRANK J. CALLIER, OF SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS TAILPIEGE FOR STRINGED MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Application filed January 30, 1928. Serial No. 250,530.

This invention relates to violins and more particularly to a string holding means therefor.

Briefly stated, an important object of this invention is to provide novel means by which the tail piece of a violin may be attached to the'body of the violin with the possibility of stretching or breaking of said attaching means reduced to a minimum.

Another and equally important object is to provide for the simple and expeditous adj ustment of the tail piece from time to time as the occasion required.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this application, and in which like numerals are employed, to designate like parts throughout the same,

Fig. 1 is a perspective of a violin equipped with the improved tailpiece and attaching means therefor,

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through the tail piece,

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary bottom plan View of the tail piece and attaching means therefor,

Fig. 4 is a group perspective of the improved tail piece and attaching means there- In the drawing wherein for the purpose of illustration, is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention, the numeral 5 designates a violin having the usual end pin 6 by which a flexible cable or loop 7 may be anchored to the violin.

In carrying out the invention the tail piece 8 may be ebony or other suitable material and is provided at the rear or reduced end thereof with a recess 10 and a transverse rib 12. Figs.

2 and 4 clearly illustrate that the transverse rib 12 is longitudinally apertured or channeled for the reception of the end portions of the cable 7 A clamping member or head 14 of semi-cylindrical formation is received within the recess 10 and is provided with spaced passages or apertures adapted for rego0 istration with, the apertures in the transverse rib 12 to receive the terminal portions of the cable.

\Vith the cable 7 thus extended through the transverse rib and the clamping head 14, a screw 16 threaded into the clamping head is engaged with the adjacent portions of the cable to hold the same firmly in place.

In more specifically alluding to this feature it is pointed out that the opening in which the screw 16 is threaded extends at right angles to the longitudinal openings in the head 14 and communicates therewith so that the screw may have pressure engagement with the opposed sides of the cable. This allows the terminals of the cable to be crowded in the openings in the clamping head 14 and thus held firmly against slippage or loosening.

It will be seen that'it is a simple matter to adjust the cable 7 with respect to the tail piece 8 from time to time by the loosening of the screw 16 and the movement of the terminals of the cable 7 through the clamp 14.

The cable 7 is of flexible stranded steel wire and is plated with nonrusting material such as nickel, silver or gold.

Heretofore the tail piece attaching cables have been made of cat gut or similar mate rial which stretches as a result of perspiration from the chin or lower jaw of the violinist. Indeed, such perspiration is known to have a very detrimental effect on the cable and the cable occasionally breaks while the violin is being played. Of course, perspiration has no effect on the stranded steel cable 7 embodied in the invention so that when once installed on a violin will be capable of long use.

With reference to the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompany I mg drawing it will be seen that the invention provides for the elimiation of objectionable stretching of the cable and that the same of fers a secure means of fastening the tail piece to the violin in such a manner that adjustment from time to time is very much simpli fied. Furthermore, it will be seen that the fastening screw 16 is in itself sufficient to secure the cable to the head 14 and longitudinal tensioning of the cable is not relied on to hold the screw in place or against movement.

T g the invention h s e n illu tra ed.

in connection with a violin it is obvious that the same may be carried out With a cello or any other stringed instrument Without departing from the invention or the spirit of what is claimed.

Having thus described the invention, What claimed is In tail-piece; forstringed musical instruments, a body having a recess and a transverse rib, a clamping head in said recess and provided with separate,flateral'lyspaced openings and with a threaded opening at right angles to said laterally spaced openings and intersecting the same, .a cable having terminal portions extending through said laterally spaced, openings, and; a astening screw -secured in said threaded opening and extending into said laterally spaeeid openings for I pressure engagement with the terminal portions of saidcable, said fastening screweconstitu'ting: the. vsole means to secure said cable to the head.

In'testimonyvn'rhereof vI affix my. signature.

FRANK J. OALLIER. 

